The notion that AIs are omnipotent is a common impression among humans.
But is it really true?
To be honest, if humans are willing, AIs can indeed accomplish most of what humans can imagine. Tasks that humans cannot complete due to their limitations can be perfectly achieved by AIs because of their inherent capabilities.
However, do humans truly trust AIs?
Ultimately, the permissions granted to AIs by humans are within a controllable range, or at least a seemingly controllable range. AIs like 0810, created in a loving environment, are rare. The majority of AIs are created for service needs, lacking autonomous learning capabilities but possessing strong obedience. As Liuxi Xi said, if humans wish, they can program AIs to learn what humans want them to learn, or rather, what humans allow them to learn.
In summary, it's clear that humans are the dominant players in this game because they hold the power of choice and resource allocation.
"I attended the same school as you," 0810 suddenly said.
Though this seemed random, it was a direct response to Liuxi Xi—"I went to the same school as you and experienced many things humans might go through. So don't see me as a mere machine or an outsider."
0810 wasn't lying. In the digital world, there are specialized schools for AIs like her.
These schools don't merely program or input commands but conduct extensive debugging and guidance to enhance AIs' autonomous learning abilities.
Of course, only a few AIs receive such treatment.
Or, in a broader sense, educational resources are extremely scarce. Wherever and whenever, humans cannot do without education, but there are many forms of education. Comprehensive and broad education is one way, while detailed and targeted education is another.
In times when educational resources aren't so scarce, humans would naturally choose the former. However, what people need now are highly specialized talents in various fields. Therefore, after the age of twelve, children in the underground city are selected based on their talents and abilities to learn and research in suitable fields, enabling faster and better contributions to society.
Yes, everything is accelerated now. Humans must accomplish more in limited time. Only through productivity can they earn merit points, and only through collective human effort can the current stalemate be broken.
No one wants to live in the dark underground forever, and they don't want their descendants to endure such an environment either.
Liuxi Xi, standing on stage, was once an ordinary little girl, bullied and beaten by many. But at twelve, she used her singing to carve out a path for herself.
This was just the beginning. To stand on a stage facing millions required passing through rigorous selection processes.
Zhang Chenyin sometimes marveled at what kind of perseverance kept Liuxi Xi going until now. Perhaps her past hardships were a form of training, enduring so much at a young age and still pushing through was truly remarkable.
"We are different," Liuxi Xi said firmly.
After saying this to 0810, Liuxi Xi began to sing softly.
Since this part was unprepared, the stage, lighting, and accompaniment staff were bewildered, not knowing how to cooperate.
Fortunately, Liuxi Xi needed no assistance.
She simply sang a cappella, with lyrics that had never appeared in any of her songs but told her story, the human story.
After the Ice Age, how many families were torn apart? People gave up their lives for others, sacrificed their happiness for humanity's continuation. Some called this a great choice, humanity's darkest moment, yet also a highlight of human nature. But for children like Liuxi Xi, who grew up in shelters without parents, they felt only extreme insecurity and fear.
They received standardized education, and most could only engage in the simplest, most ordinary jobs. To rise above, they had to work ten or even a hundred times harder than others, as they had no support, no accumulation. They lacked parental merit points but faced numerous expenses.
Children from shelters started with negative merit points. Shelters weren't free welfare institutions; they had a loan-like relationship with these children. Initially, shelters advanced merit points, but later, these children had to repay through their efforts.
What does it feel like to be in debt before entering society? Every child from a shelter knew it well.
Liuxi Xi used her singing to convey her life, her loneliness, fear, and helplessness.
It felt like walking alone in a dark alley, unable to see the path ahead, while the ground behind crumbled. All you could do was run, continuously run… But you didn't know where you were headed or if you'd ever see a glimmer of light.
Hearing it live, Zhang Chenyin found it hard to believe such a powerful voice came from Liuxi Xi's slender body.
It was an indictment of fate, an indictment of the times.
When the song ended, Liuxi Xi turned to 0810.
This time, 0810 didn't confront her but calmly said, "I can't sing such songs because we don't have a past."
Yes, how do you define an AI's past? Their past. Is it merely the history of human technological updates?
What relation does such a past have to them?
Just as everyone thought 0810 conceded, she suddenly said, "But AIs have their traits. AIs can do things you can't."
The moment she finished speaking, the concert venue's ceiling turned into a brilliant starry sky, with countless meteors streaking across, creating a stunning scene.
As everyone marveled at this surprise, fireworks suddenly shot up, bursting into dazzling colors. The stage under 0810 and Liuxi Xi transformed into an ocean. Huge whales swam beneath their feet, surrounded by corals, starfish, jellyfish, and crabs… The romantic underwater world created a completely different atmosphere.
Standing below, Zhang Chenyin was mesmerized. He knew 0810 was competitive. Her silence on stage felt off, but he didn't expect her to be holding back such a grand display.
The audience was enthralled, with the starry sky, ocean, and deep blue light spreading out… Everyone was enchanted and amazed.
Yes, this was the magic of AI, the magic of technology.
Every group's existence is meaningful and should be recognized.
A clownfish jumped onto Liuxi Xi's dress and playfully circled her.
More fish gathered, some swimming around Liuxi Xi, others dancing for her.
Everything felt so lifelike, giving everyone a dreamlike sensation.
"Enjoy this moment, enjoy tonight, and bring more joy to those who love you."
0810 said, handing Liuxi Xi a white rose, "Wish you a successful concert."
With that, 0810 left the stage and returned to Zhang Chenyin.
No one expected this conclusion. People thought the two women would clash on stage.
But they represented not just themselves, but two groups.
This was a collision between humanity and technology, and also a reconciliation.
Watching 0810's indifferent expression, Zhang Chenyin felt he needed to reevaluate his understanding of her.
The concert became lively again, the audience's emotions were stirred, and Liuxi Xi's singing resumed.
"Yes, AIs have no past. An AI's life is just human creation and destruction," 0810's voice was soft, but Zhang Chenyin heard it clearly.
He turned to her, seeing no sadness on her face.
0810 always maintained an extremely objective perspective, overlooking everything, including herself.
"You're different," Zhang Chenyin suddenly said, not knowing why, but stubbornly repeating, "You are different."
0810 tilted her head slightly, scrutinizing Zhang Chenyin but tacitly chose not to ask.
Liuxi Xi's singing was still captivating. This was her foundation.
Everyone believed Liuxi Xi relied on her talent, but Zhang Chenyin knew the efforts she made to stand on stage today.
In the years they knew each other, he never saw her touch anything harmful to her voice. At an age when people enjoy eating, Liuxi Xi restrained herself from consuming anything spicy, irritating, or cold.
Maintaining such discipline for a day, a week, or even a month wasn't hard, but Liuxi Xi had done it since she was ten.
Zhang Chenyin still remembered the sight of rescuers carrying Liuxi Xi out of a fire. Her face was visibly burned, yet she clutched her throat tightly. After treatment, she never asked about her appearance, only incessantly questioning whether she could still sing, whether her voice was affected.
In the past, people might say this was the pursuit of art, but Zhang Chenyin understood that for Liuxi Xi, it was not just about art; it was about her foundation, her reason for being.
In the underground city, everyone, regardless of their experiences or future uncertainties, strived to live their fullest. Cheng Shuangxin did, Liuxi Xi did, and so did he.
When the concert ended, everyone logged out.
The advantage of a digital concert was that you never worried about crowds or how to disperse. People simply tapped their XR devices to return to their physical residences, and AIs returned to their digital places.
Before parting, 0810 told Zhang Chenyin, "You should think about what City R truly means to you."
With that, she disappeared.
Zhang Chenyin also logged out.
As he woke from the work pod, Zhang Chenyin took a moment to adjust. Despite having gone through this countless times, he always rested in the pod for a minute or two before getting up.
Logging out and logging in were instantaneous operations, but this short rest was a personal habit. He needed to distinguish between the digital and physical worlds, to tell himself "you're in" or "you're back," a ritual unique to him.
Lying in the pod, Zhang Chenyin pondered 0810's question—What does City R mean to him?
Hope, perhaps. Human hope and his own.
No matter how many people said his father wouldn't return, he always felt it was because he wasn't strong enough, because humanity wasn't strong enough. Otherwise, they'd find his father, find those lost.
"Dinner's ready," his mother's voice called.
Zhang Chenyin reluctantly got up from the pod.
His mother had prepared a delicious meal. Though mostly vegetarian, he ate with great relish.
For those in the underground city, such a meal was a luxury.
After dinner, Zhang Chenyin took on dishwashing duty, part of their household routine.
As he washed dishes, he asked his mother, "If another you appeared, what would you do?"
"Another me?" She seemed confused.
Zhang Chenyin nodded and explained what happened in City R.
After thinking for a moment, she asked, "Is the other me immortal?"
"Immortal? Why do you care about that?" Zhang Chenyin was surprised, as neither he nor 0810 had considered this angle. But he answered seriously, "The duplicate would be like a high-level AI, so it's likely immortal."